Vented pouring spout

ABSTRACT

A vented pouring spout formed of synthetic plastics material adapted to be retracted in stored position within a container opening and pulled up to extended pouring position for dispensing of the container contents. The spout is formed at its inner end with venting means for permitting the entry of air within the container through the pouring spout simultaneously with the liquid dispensing.

United States Patent 1 Laurizio 51 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] VENTED POURING SPOUT [75] lnventor: Jeremiah Laurizio, New Providence,

[73] Assignee: American Flange & Manufacturing Co., Inc., New York, N.Y.

{22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 118,690

[52] US. Cl ..-.....222/481, 222/529 [51] Int. Cl. ..B67d 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..220/44 R, 44 A, 44 C, 89 R, 220/89 A; 222/478, 481, 481.5, 528, 529,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Harps ..222/564 2,772,037 11/1956 Rieke ..222/481 3,330,450 7/1967 Clare ....222/564 X 3,204,827 9/1965 Krautkramer..... ....222/543 X 3,458,080 7/1969 Laurizio ....222/54| X 3,040,938 6/1962 Smith ,.222/530 X Primary Examiner-Samue1 F. Coleman Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney-Albert M. Parker [57] ABSTRACT A vented pouring spout formed of synthetic plastics material adapted to be retracted in stored position within a container opening and pulled up to extended pouring position for dispensing of the container contents. The spout is formed at its inner end with venting means for permitting the entry of air within the container through the pouring spout simultaneously with the liquid dispensing. i

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU EBZ 3,717, 289

ll/llllL/V/II/Il Ava-T012.

JEREM/A H LA (JR/Z10 ATTORNEY VENTED POURING SPOUT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A longstanding problem in the field of liquid container dispensing has been that of providing some effective and economical means for eliminating surging or excessive gurgling during dispensing. Generally speaking, the solution to this problem resides in permitting the container interior to communicate with the atmosphere so that the liquid dispensed can be freely displaced with air. A simple solution is to provide an additional vent fitting in the container through which air can enter as the contents are dispensed. Such arrangements, however, regardless of their simplicity, overlook the requirements dictated by economics. Although attempts have been made to vent the container interior and dispense the container contents through a single opening, these attempts have not been wholly successful. Among the deficiencies exhibited by such single fitting arrangements brought forward to date has, first of all, been their inability to completely eliminate the surging action under all dispensing conditions.

Secondly, their construction, if effective inventing, is such that the dispensing liquid flow is seriously reduced, particularly in the case of relatively viscous fluids. Finally, in certain instances the manufacture of the device or the necessary method of attachment to the container is sufficiently complicated as to offset any advantage of economy from the use of a single dispensing fitting.

The invention presents an effective solution to the problem in providing a new and novel pouring spout designed to simultaneously dispense a container contents and vent the container interior to the surrounding atmosphere. The spout has a simple unitary construction which facilitates rapid, gurgle free pouring while permitting the entry of atmospheric air through the spout into communication with the container interior. This is accomplished by forming radially opening air passages about the circumference of the spout base in conjunction with spout supporting means. An annular baffle is also provided at the innermost end of the spout for separating the dispensing liquid flow from the incoming air supply.

It is accordingly a principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved self-venting pouring spout.

Another object is to provide a one piece self-venting pouring spout economically molded of synthetic plastics material.

A further object is to provide a pull up pouring spout incorporating container venting means in conjunction with supporting means for rigidly retaining the spout in pouring position.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will be in part pointed out and in part be obvious as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vented pouring spout of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a part elevational part sectional view of pouring spout in retracted stored position within a closure nozzle;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the nozzle inserted in a container with the spout in extended pouring and venting position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the engagement of the spout base with the nozzle; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pouring spout.

As seen in FIG. I the vented spout l, molded of synthetic plastic material, has a cylindrical body 2 terminating at its upper end in a circumferential lip 3. A semi-circular lifting bail 4 is hingedly connected to the lip 3 at diametically opposed points 5. At its lower end the cylindrical spout body has an outwardly tapered portion 6 terminating in a lower edge 7. Four equally spaced radially enlarged feet 8, having upwardly facing surfaces ,9, extend axially below the lower edge 7, and are integrally connected to an annular baffle 10. The baffle 10 is provided with a central aperture 11 and is axially spaced from the lower edge 7 so as to form four radially directed openings 12.

The spout 1 is retained within a closure fitting 13, also molded of synthetic plastic material, comprising a nozzle 14 having an internal cylindrical throat 15. The lower portion of the throat 15 has a reduced diameter as indicated at 16 forming a spout retaining ledge 17, clearly seen in FIG. 2.

A container wall engaging surface 18 is formed along the lower exterior of the nozzle throat 15. A circumferentially enlarged cap receiving bead 19 is formed about the upper end of the nozzle 14. The uppermost end of the nozzle throat 15 is closed off by a tear-out sealing diaphragm 20 having an integrally formed ring pull 21 for tearing. A captive snap cap 22 is connected by a strap 23 to the nozzle 14 for frictional engagement over the nozzle bead 19.

The fully assembled closure fitting is pressed into a closure receiving opening 24 formed in the head 25 of a container 26. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container opening 24 bites into the nozzle surface 18 forming a leakproof joint.

In operation, the container is supplied to the filler who performs the filling operation through the opening 24 and presses the nozzle 13 into the opening, sealing the containerfor shipment. The end user opens the snap cap 22, and tears away the sealing diaphragm 21 by means of the ring pull 21, exposing the readily grasped spout bail 4. The spout 1 is then pulled up to extended pouring position. The pouring action of the spout is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein it can be seen that the container contents are dispensed through the central aperture 11 in the spout baffle 10 simultaneously with the entry of air into the spout and through the openings 12. Regardless of the rotational orientation of the spout 1, the baffle 10 effectively separates the outgoing fluid from the incoming air with the radially directed openings 12 providing a direct, unimpeded path for air to communicate with the interior of the container. In addition, the openings 12 are so formed in conjunction with the spout supporting feet 8 as to minimize the spout extension within the container during pouring to facilitate complete emptying of the container.

In accordance with the invention, accurate, gurgle free dispensing is economically accomplished through the provision of the above described self-venting pouring spout applied to a container as a single dispensing fitting thus eliminating the need for a separate vent fitting in the container.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A self-venting pouring spout adapted to be pulled up from a retracted stored position within a container to an extended pouring position comprising a substantially cylindrical upper body portion, a circumferential lip at the upper end of said body portion for supporting said spout in retracted position, a lower body portion terminating in a spout base having a lower edge, an annular baffle axially spaced from said spout lower edge and connected thereto by a plurality of axially extending feet forming a series of radially directed openings therebetween circumferentially spaced about said spout base and a central aperture located in said baffle whereby liquid is dispensed through said central aperture while venting air is simultaneously introduced through said spout in communication with one or more of said radial openings.

2. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout lip includes a semi-circular hinged bail to facilitate lifting of the spout to pouring'position.

3. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout lower portion tapers downwardly and radially outwardly.

4. A self-venting pouring spout as inclaim 1 wherein said spout base feet project radially outwardly beyond said spout body lower edge forming a support for said spout in extended pouring position.

5. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout is molded of synthetic plastic material.

6. A fluid dispensing closure fitting for containers, comprising an annular dispensing nozzle including a cylindrical throat terminating in a lowermost free edge, a container wall engaging surface surrounding said nozzle throat, closure engaging means formed on the upper end of said nozzle, spout supporting means formed along said nozzle throat, a self-venting pouring spout adapted to be pulled up from a retracted stored position within a container to an extended pouring position, said spout including a substantially cylindrical upper body portion, means formed on the upper end of said body portion for engaging said spout supporting means along said throat with said spout in retracted stored position, a lower body portion terminating in a spout base, having an annular baffle formed with an axially directed liquid dispensing aperture, said spout base including circumferentially spaced means adapted to engage said nozzle throat lowermost free edge for retaining said spout in extended pouring position within said nozzle, and radially directed passages formed in said spout base intermediate said nozzle engaging means, said passages defined by said spout baffle and said nozzle lowermost free edge whereby liquid is dispensed through said baffle aperture while venting air is simultaneously introduced through said spout in communication with one or more of said radial passages with said spout in extended pouring position.

7. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 6 and including a closure member in engagement with said closure engaging means on said nozzle.

8. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 6 wherein said nozzle throat is sealed off with a tamper proof tear out diaphragm.

9. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 8 and said tear out diaphragm having a ring pull to facilitate removal.

10. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 6 wherein said spout base includes a lower edge formed on said spout lower portion and said nozzle engaging means on said spout base extend axially from said spout base lower edge.

11. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 10 wherein said spout base lower edge and said nozzle lowermost free edge lie in a common plane with said spout in extended pouring position.

12. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 10 wherein said nozzle engaging means on said spout base extend radially outwardly beyond said spout base lower edge.

13. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 10 wherein said baffle is connected to the lowermost ends of said nozzle engaging means on said spout base. 

1. A self-venting pouring spout adapted to be pulled up from a retracted stored position within a container to an extended pouring position comprising a substantially cylindrical upper body portion, a circumferential lip at the upper end of said body portion for supporting said spout in retracted position, a lower body portion terminating in a spout base having a lower edge, an annular baffle axially spaced from said spout lower edge and connected thereto by a plurality of axially extending feet forming a series of radially directed openings therebetween circumferentially spaced about said spout base and a central aperture located in said baffle whereby liquid is dispensed through said central aperture while venting air is simultaneously introduced through said spout in communication with one or more of said radial openings.
 1. A self-venting pouring spout adapted to be pulled up from a retracted stored position within a container to an extended pouring position comprising a substantially cylindrical upper body portion, a circumferential lip at the upper end of said body portion for supporting said spout in retracted position, a lower body portion terminating in a spout base having a lower edge, an annular baffle axially spaced from said spout lower edge and connected thereto by a plurality of axially extending feet forming a series of radially directed openings therebetween circumferentially spaced about said spout base and a central aperture located in said baffle whereby liquid is dispensed through said central aperture while venting air is simultaneously introduced through said spout in communication with one or more of said radial openings.
 2. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout lip includes a semi-circular hinged bail to facilitate lifting of the spout to pouring position.
 3. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout lower portion tapers downwardly and radially outwardly.
 4. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout base feet project radially outwardly beyond said spout body lower edge forming a support for said spout in extended pouring position.
 5. A self-venting pouring spout as in claim 1 wherein said spout is molded of synthetic plastic material.
 6. A fluid dispensing closure fitting for containers, comprising an annular dispensing nozzle including a cylindrical throat terminating in a lowermost free edge, a container wall engaging surface surrounding said nozzle throat, closure engaging means formed on the upper end of said nozzle, spout supporting means formed along said nozzle throat, a self-venting pouring spout adapted to be pulled up from a retracted stored position within a container to an extended pouring position, said spout including a substantially cylindrical upper body portion, means formed on the upper end of said body portion for engaging said spout supporting means along said throat with said spout in retracted stored position, a lower body portion terminating in a spout base, having an annular baffle formed with an axially directed liquid dispensing aperture, said spout base including circumferentially spaced means adapted to engage said nozzle throat lowermost free edge for retaining said spout in extended pouring position within said nozzle, and radially directed passages formed in said spout base intermediate said nozzle engaging means, said passages defined by said spout baffle and said nozzle lowermost free edge whereby liquid is dispensed through said baffle aperture while venting air is simultaneously introduced through said spout in communication with one or more of said radial passages with said spout in extended pouring position.
 7. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 6 and including a closure member in engagement with said closure engaging means on said nozzle.
 8. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 6 wherein said nozzle throat is sealed off with a tamperproof tear out diaphragm.
 9. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 8 and said tear out diaphragm having a ring pull to facilitate removal.
 10. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 6 wherein said spout base includes a lower edge formed on said spout lower portion and said nozzle engaging means on said spout base extend axially from said spout base lower edge.
 11. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 10 wherein said spout base lower edge and said nozzle lowermost free edge lie in a common plane with said spout in extended pouring position.
 12. A fluid dispensing closure fitting as in claim 10 wherein said nozzle engaging means on said spout base extend radially outwardly beyond said spout base lower edge. 